Travel preference for festive season outweighs summers: Survey

Travelling during festive season, mainly driven by visiting friends and relatives (VFR), has caught on with as many as 65 per cent people booking at least two months in advance compared to 53 per cent during summers holidays, according to a survey.

For international travellers, it said, 68 per cent people made bookings for the festive season well in advance compared to 57 per cent during the summer break. (Source: Reuters)

Travelling during festive season, mainly driven by visiting friends and relatives (VFR), has caught on with as many as 65 per cent people booking at least two months in advance compared to 53 per cent during summers holidays, according to a survey.

“Festive season travel continues to be driven by VFR, as customers plan the festive season holidays much more in advance with 65 per cent customers booking at least two months in advance compared to 53 per cent during summers,” said travel website makemytrip’s ‘Festive Travel Trends’ report.

For domestic destinations, 61 per cent travellers have finalised their holiday plan at least two months in advance for the festive season compared to 49 per cent during summer holidays, it said.

For international travellers, it said, 68 per cent people made bookings for the festive season well in advance compared to 57 per cent during the summer break.

‘Festive Travel Trends’ was prepared on the basis of actual books on makemytrip site for the month of October to December 2016, which has been compared with October to December 2015.

The travel period comparison also includes April to June travel of 2016 compared with 2015.

The survey also found that more travellers planned their holiday in the festive period against the summers.

Further, it said, Delhi-Bangalore, Mumbai-Delhi route is the most travelled with 69 per cent and 62 per cent growth, respectively during the festive season.

There also has been a significant growth in bookings for Rajasthan observed during festive season with locations like Jaisalmer, Bikaner and Jodhpur growing by 700 per cent, 580 per cent and 400 per cent, respectively.

Christmas and new year holidays are a big trigger for the same with 45 per cent growth over summers.

Short haul international destinations are also being preferred with short breaks during this period.

Dubai and Thailand continue to be the top international travel destinations with 40 per cent and 68 per cent growth, respectively during the festive season, it added.